The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) today tabled its advisory report on the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2023.
The Committee noted that the security clearance process is designed to ensure that only individuals who are deemed suitable and trustworthy are granted access to sensitive national security information.
At the same time, the Committee recognises that the security clearance process must be fair and, to the extent possible, transparent. Individuals who are subject to the process have the right to procedural fairness, including the right to challenge adverse findings and to have their case reviewed by an independent body. The Committee is satisfied with the merits and other review processes proposed by the Bill and the involvement of the IGIS in oversight of the powers and functions exercised under the Bill.
The Committee also supported, the inclusion of the new Quality Assurance Office within the Office of National Intelligence and agrees with ONI that this should ‘drive the uplift of the mandatory insider threat capability across government agencies that sponsor TOP SECRET-Privileged Access security clearances.
The Committee made one recommendation that the Explanatory Memorandum for the Bill be amended, or a supplementary Explanatory Memorandum presented, specifying that, notwithstanding the Bill’s authority to delegate functions and powers to ASIO affiliates, human sources or agents will not be used to undertake security vetting.
Chair of the Committee Mr Peter Khalil MP said “the Committee reviewed this Bill with a view to ensuring that the security clearance process is robust, fair, and effective. The Committee is satisfied that the Bill protects Australia’s national security interests, while also upholding the rights and privacy of individuals.”
